Having just started university 2 months ago I really want to make a go of it. Unlike school this is something I really want to do yet suddenly in the last two weeks I've been faced with the same problems I experienced in 6th form. I'm totally lacking hte motivation to do what I need to do. I find myself procrascinating about things I want to do, like play my trumpet and I'm oversleeping in to hte afternoon. Today I woke up at 2 and have only just left my room for the first time today. I have just noticed it's gone dark. I've seen no sunlight today. Why if I want this so badly can I not bring myself to just get on wiht it?
I'm sorry if this is a random rant but perhaps I just need to get it off of my cheast. My work is pilling up yet I have no motivation.

A few suggestions. Firstly at this time of term everyone I think gets a bit down, and loses motivation. That is normal, sodon't worry about it.

Other than that you have to think a bit about time management. The most important thing you should think about is sleep. Try and plan to have around eight hours sleep every night. If you go to bed at Midnight, set your alarm for 8am, and don't hang around in bed for too long. Getting too much sleep can be as bad as getting too little sleep. Getting the right ammount of sleep will help you no end.

Secondly think about how you spend your time. I am not sure what the requirements of your course are, but you shouldn't do much more than 40hours per week on your course work (and you may be able to get away with less). This includes lectures, practicals, tutorials, etc. You may need to do a bit more than this near exams, or in the run up to dealines. To be honest, I confess that I probably did less than that, especially during my later years doinf my undergrad degree. 40 hours should be the equilavent of a 9-5 job five days a week.

Remember that rest and relaxation are just as important as work!

When you are doing work, make sure you have regular breaks. A 5 minute stroll every hour makes a wonder of differnece!

Do you do paid work at uni? You should avoid this as much as possible, though I understand that this is sometimes financially impossible.

After you eight hous per day sleep, and your 40 hours work, you will find that there is lenty of left over tme to socialise, watch TV, spend time on your own, chill, and do all you enjoy doing.

I'm suffering from a similar thing at the moment. I just want to sleep all the time. This morning I tried to get up for eight. I got dressed and then decided to lie back on my bed until the English Faculty's opening time came round. I fell asleep and woke up at ten minutes to one.

I think it is because term is slowly coming to an end and people are getting fatigued. The lack of sunlight doesn't help either - people need some ultraviolet light to stimulate melatonin production, which is vital for a healthy sleep cycle. Take Gordon's advice and try modifying your diet as well. Cut out starchy foods and food that provides a temporary sugar rush. I am practically living off fruit and vegetables at the moment, and it seems to be helping.

Hi, thanks for your advice. It's been very useful.
It may seem a little odd but I think a lot of the reason I've been feeling like this is down to not doing enough. Before coming to uni I was in rehearsals almost every evening. Now I don't have hte routine of this and have to organise doing other things myself, like practicing the trumpet.
I will start to only have 8 hours sleep per night. I tend to sleep a lot more than this and find it hard to wake up in the mornings. Perhaps I am sleeping too much. My mother has agreed to ring me every morning for the next two weeks to make sure I am awake. This isn't something I'm too happy about as I feel a little less independant but in this instance I'm not going to get caught up about it as it may well work!
I have written a timetable, now all I have to do is stick to it! I like walking so I will motivate myself to do it more often.
Thanks again,
El x

The capacity of the body is limited
Yours, mine, everybody's
But the capacity of the soul is unlimited
Your's, mine, everybody's

I see what you mean, it's happening to me and college, it's something to do with the time of year, It should hopefully soon pass over, around new year. Some other people are like this, they just cannot be bothered to do something, my mind just drifts in and out during classes so I miss out on alot from lectures but when I reread notes I can easily get back to standing point.

Just get yourself a drink before going in for lessons or bring a bottle of water with you, read up on a few notes then go and do something else, just read notes or research when you've ran out of things to do. You're going to need to do it, even if it's bothersome. I'm being shot in the neck about my lack of homework handed in.

I'm still struggling to get motivated. There are a thousand things I'd rather be doing other than write my essays. Fear of failure, dismay that I'm not enjoying my work as much as I should, worry about Miranda - these things are all making me anxious. It's not easy to clamber out of this trap. Even making a timetable doesn't seem to help.

I find it really hard to be motavated but this stratagy seems to work when I'm swamped.

1) Buy 2 colors of post it notes
2) Write the things you need to/don't want to do on one color (one post it for each task)
3) Write an equal number of things you wan't to do on the other colour.
4) Stick the rewars post its on your computer monitor with the task ones over them.
5) Swear on your most treasured possetions that you will only do what the visible post it's tell you (and obviously eat and sleep etc) until they are all gone.
6) Once you have done somthing remove it. If it's a task post it then their will be a reward postit visable underneath.

I am having real problems finding the motivation to do a piece of AS History Coursework... I have just deleted 2 out of my four paragrahs because I felt the format was wrong, so now, I need to get going because I have until Tuesday and I don't want to do it at the last minute

Thanks for the idea, Alice! I'll try it too. I always get down during this time of year because of the weather and so I start watching more tv to procrastinate. Hopefully, I can reward myself with the shows I watch after I have done a good amount of work! I already have a lot of post-its so I won't have to go out and buy any more right now!

Image is from "Gilmore Girls" Season 1"You are the same as everyone else."--"Forrest Gump""I want you to go out there and skate for these people like I have seen you skate."--"The Cutting Edge"